OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in prostate cancer (PCa) and its clinical significance.

METHODSWe collected tissue samples from 63 cases of PCa, 46 cases of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and 58 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) adjacent to PCa and determined the expression of EpCAM in the epithelial and stromal cells by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe positive expression rates of EpCAM in the epithelial cells were significantly higher in PCa and PIN than in PCa-adjacent BPH (98. 4 and 97. 8 vs 51.7%, P <0. 01), and so was that in the stromal cells of PCa than in those of PCa-adjacent PIN (89.5 vs 50.0%, P <0.01). The expression of EpCAM.was remarkably higher in the stromal cells of bone metastasis than in those of non-bone metastasis tissue (100. 0 vs 40. 0%, P <0. 01) but showed no statistically significant differences between the highly and poorly differentiated PCa tissues (88.5 vs 91.9%, P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression level of EpCAM in the stromal cells of PCa is related to the occurrence, progression, and bone metastasis of the tumor, and therefore may be used as a marker in the early diagnosis of PCa as well as a predictor of bone metastasis of the tumor.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism

Objective To determine the involvement of DNA demethylation in tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)-induced matrix metalloproteinase 9 ( MMP9) expression in human epidermal keratinocytes. Methods Real-time RT-PCR, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to determine the mRNA and protein levels of MMP9 after human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) cells were treated with 10 ng/ ml TNF-α or 2. 5 μmol/ L DAC/ 300 nmol/ L TSA. Bisulfite sequencing PCR ( BSP) and Methylation-sensitive high-resolution melt analysis ( Ms-HRM) were used to detect significantly differentially demethylated CpG sites in the human MMP9 promoter region in cells exposed to TNF-α. Different sites methylation constructs of promoter-luciferase reporter gene were made to detect the influences of site-specific DNA demethylation on transcription activity of MMP9 promoter. Results Compared with PBS-treated control, TNF-α significantly increased the expression of MMP9 in HaCaT cells for indicated culture duration ( P < 0. 05 ). Real time PCR, Western blot, and ELISA analysis demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of MMP9 were increased initially, followed by a decline with prolonged incubation time. After TNF-α treatment, varied degrees of DNA demethylation occurred at 10 CpG sites in the promoter of MMP9, and the changes at the -36 bp site were statistically significant (P<0. 05). The demethylation at the -36 bp site greatly increased the transcription activity of MMP9. Conclusion TNF-α promotes MMP9 expression in HaCaT cells through inducing -36 bp site DNA demethylation on the promoter of MMP9.

Objective Acute bilirubin encephalopathy in neonates is the most serious complication of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, is one of the main causes of neonatal death and disability. Clinical early diagnosis, early treatment can improve the prognosis in children. Methods Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEF) was detected on two patients (40 patients with ABE, 40 cases of normal controls, all full-term) in the state of sleep in children and analysis the difference between the two groups ,all testing was completed by experienced Department of ENT full-time technician in charge,SPSS15.0 statistical analysis software was took for data analysis (using rank sum test method). Results There was significant difference between the two groups of neonatal latency of wave I, latency of waveⅤ, interpeak time , acute bilirubinⅠ-Ⅴencephalopathy group was significantly longer than that of the control group. Conclusions The BAEF detection is the sensitive index of brainstem damage , can objectively and sensitively reflect the function of the central nervous system , can reflect the functional status of cochlear and brainstem structures , often brainstem was slightly damaged but no clinical symptoms and signs , BAEP has changed significantly , so the conventional BAEP examination performed on patients with hyperbilirubinemia help to find bilirubin brain damage as early as possible,and prevent the occurrence of bilirubin encephalopathy.

Objective To investigate the role of prokinetic agent itopride in colonic preparation before colonoscopy examination in patients with constipation.Methods A total of 115 outpatients with history of chronic constipation who requested colonoscopy were collected.According to colonic preparation proposal,patients were divided into three groups.Group A (39 cases) took standard dosage of PEG-E solution six hours before colonoscopy examination.Group B (38 cases) took 150 mg itopride 30 minutes before administration of lavage solution.Group C (38 cases) took itopride 150 mg at 7 am,12 am and 8 pm the day before the examination and on the examination day took the same medicine as that of group B.The blood pressure,heart rate and blood electrolytes were monitored before and after taking medicine in the patients of three groups.Quality of colon cleansing of each group was observed and side effects were also observed.One-way analysis of variance (least significant difference,LSD) test was performed for pairwise comparisons among the three groups.Chi-square test was applied for count data.Results Both group A and group B excluded one patient because of malignant carcinoma with colon stricture under colonoscopy,and 113 patients completed the whole colon examination.There was no significant difference in the baseline patients' data of three groups.The colon cleaning score of group C (7.28±1.11) was higher than those of group A and B (6.55±1.18 and 6.51±1.16,LSD test,both P＜0.05).The frequency of bowel movements defecation of group C (8.31± 1.32) was more than those of group A and group B (7.11± 1.41 and 6.94± 1.51,LSD,test,both P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in terms of intestinal bubble scores,blood pressure,heart rate,blood electrolytes the uncomfortable degree of colonic preparation and rate of side effects of the three groups.Conclusion The colonic preparation can be safely and effectively improved by taking high dose of itopride one day before and on the day of colonoscopy examination.

T-2 toxin is a secondary fungal metabolite that belongs to the trichothecene mycotoxin family.T-2 toxin can lead to the structural and functional changes of cartilage cells and cartilage cell degeneration and necrosis.With strong cytotoxicity,T-2 toxin can cause definite damage to cartilage cells.In this paper,we reviewed recent studies on the effects of T-2 toxin on chondrocyte apoptosis,ultra structural changes and extracellular matrix in vitro.

Objective To detect the effects of Yunnan Baiyao on receptor activator of NF-κB(RANK)/receptor activator of NF-κB ligand(RANKL)/osteoprotegerin(OPG) system by means of animal model that use Porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg) induce cal-varial to induce bone destroy .Methods Seventy-two male Kunming mouses were selected and randomly divided into model group , Yunnan Baiyao treatment group and control group .The animals of model group and Yunnan Baiyao treatment group were inoculated Pg at the midline of the scalp between the ears and the animals of the Yunnan Baiyao treatment group gastric perfusion Yunnan Baiyao after them inoculated Pg .Mouses were killed at 5 ,8 and 14 days after inoculation .For each data point ,killed eight mice(n=8) ,then detected the number of osteoclast of the calvaria and the change of RANKL mRNA ,OPGm RNA express .Results On the 5th ,8th and 14th day the number of osteoclast and the content of RANKL mRNA expression in the model group apparently higher than in the Yunnan Baiyao treatment group(P<0 .05) ,two groups also apparently higher than in the control group(P<0 .05) .A-bout OPG mRNA expression on the 5th ,8th and 14th day in the Yunnan Baiyao treatment group apparently higher than in the con-trol group and model group(P<0 .05) ,but on the 5th day the model group lower than the control group(P<0 .05) and on the 8th , 14 day the model group higher than the control group(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Yunnan Baiyao can cut regulation RANKL mRNA expression and raise regulation OPG mRNA expression to inhibit bone destruction and improve bone repair and inhibiting osteoclast product so as to inhibit bone destroy and improve bone repair .

Objective To observe the effect of nutritional status change on hemodialysis patients of chronic renal failure and deficiency of spleen and kidney treated bytraditional Chinese medicine(TCM) of warming kidney and invigorating spleen. Methods In our center, 146 patients who were diagnosed chronic renal failure belonging to deficiency of spleen and kidney in TCM were received hemodialysis between Jun2012 and May2013. All patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=72) and a control group (n=74). 74 patients in the control groupreceived conventional hemodialysis and medicine treatment, and 72 patients in treatment group received conventional hemodialysis、medicine treatment and TCM treatment of warming kidney and invigorating spleen. The comprehensive nutritional assessment of all patients were treated by modified SGAN method (MQSGAN), anthropometric, biochemical and laboratory examination before and 6 monthsafter the treatment. Results The treatment group patients of modified SGAN(9.58±3.15), BMI (body mass index 19.34±0.52) Kg/m2, MAC(upper arm circumference 27.51±1.95)cm, TSF(tricepsskinfold thickness 12.92± 2.42) mm and MAMC(upper arm muscle circumference 23.64±1.96)cm were significantly improved compared with the control g roup(respectively data 13.23±3.14, 17.29±0.76) Kg/m2, (24.01±2.55, 10.58±2.71) mm, (20.71±2.04)cm, P<0.05,and treatment group patients with ALB(serum albumin 38.19±1.95)g/L, PA(prealbumin 2.23±0.16)g/L, TF(transferrin 0.21±0.04)g/L, CH(cholesterol 4.02±0.26)mmol/L, BUN(blood urea nitrogen 19.58±2.17)mmol/L and SCr (creatinine 869.54±79.15)mmol/L were significant improved also compared with the control group(respectively data 33.73±1.31)g/L, (1.67±0.25)g/L, (0.17±0.02)g/L, (3.22± 0.46)mmol/L, (16.27±1.12)mmol/L, (792.73±71.65)mmol/L, P<0.05. Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine of warming kidney and invigorating spleen can improve the nutritional status and quality of life on patients with chronic renal failure belonging to deficiency of spleen and kidney type during hemodialysis.

Objective To assess the subgenotypes of pathogenic Cryptococcus gattii isolates from China and to elucidate the epidemiological links between these domestic isolates and those from other parts of the world. Methods DNA was extracted from 9 clinical isolates of Ctyptococcus gattii from China. The partially variable regions of the three unlinked loci, namely IGS1, PLB1 and GEF1, were amplified and sequenced, and the bioinformation at these loci was obtained from GenBank for multi-locus sequences alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Results Of these 9 clinical isolates, 8 were genotype VG Ⅰ and mating type α with the same sequences at the tested regions as the reference strain WM276, which was a representative isolate of an independent subgenotype; 1 was of genotype VG Ⅱ and mating type α, which was the first report in China, with the tested sequences consistent with those of the referrence strain R272. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of GEF1 gene, which was located at mating type locus, successfully identified the genotypes and mating types of all the Cryptococcus gattii isolates involved here. Conclusions Multi-locus sequence analysis shows that causative Cryptococcus gattii isolates of genotype VG Ⅰ in China carry similar sequences at the tested loci in IGS1, PLB1 and GEF1 genes, to a widely distributed subgenotype in the world, and the sequences of the first VG Ⅱ genotype isolate from China resemble the less virulent subgenotype VG Ⅱ b found in Vancouver islands.

Objective To study the short-term clinical efficacy of treating patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer with lentinan injection and javanica oil emulsion injection.Methods Clinical information of 42 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer were retrospectively collected.The 42 patients were divided into two groups according to treatments,with 21 case in the control group who were treated with javanica oil emulsion injection,as well as 21 case in the treatment group treated with lentinan injection and javanica oil emulsion injection.The efficacy,quality of life (QOL) and adverse effects were observed after treatment for 3 weeks.Results 81.0％ (17/21)of patients in the treatment group improved in QOL,which was much higher than that in the control group 47.6％ ( 10/21 ) ( x2 =5.081,P =0.024 ).The objective remission rate was 19.0％ (4/21)and 14.3％ (3/21)in the treatment group and the control group respectively,with no significant differece bwtween the two groups( x2 =0.171,P =0.679 ).the disease control rate was 85.7％ (18/21)in the treatment group,which was significantly higher than that of 61.9％ (12/21)in the control group( x2 =4.200,P =0.040 ).The incidence of adverse effect related to hematological toxicity,liver and kidney function,the digestive tract and itching of skin were similar between the two groups (Ps ＞ 0.05 ).Phlebitis in the treatment group was not as frequent as that in the control group(P ＜0.05).Conclusion Treating patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer with lentinan injection and javanica oil emulsion injection had high efficacy than treating only with javanica oil emulsion injection,and it improved QOL signifiantly with safety.

AIM To explore the effects and mechanism of cobra venom serum on the proliferation in HL60 cells. METHODS Established the HL60 cells as a target to study the growth feature by the action of cobra venom serum.The agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis were used to demonstrate apoptosis. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the cells were inhibited significantly by the action of cobra venom serum.A characteristic DNA "ladder" was detected by using agarose gel electrophoresis. By flow cytometry analysis,it was proved that most apoptosis of HL60 cells occurred when cultured with cobra venom serum. CONCLUSION Cobra venom serum inhibited the HL60 cells in vitro , which was related to apoptosis. This may introduce a new way to the treatment of leukemia.